Tripping mechanism for dumping scoops



March 22, 1932. R, R N"; 1,850,539

TRIPPING MECHANISM FOR DUMPING SCOOPS Filed Jan. 5, 1928 3 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR ATTORNEY March 22, 1932. R, R. D WME 1,850,539

THIPFING MECHANISM FOR DUMPING SCOOPS INVEN'IZOR 13. R. Dome ATTORN March 22, 1932. DOWNIE TRIPPING MECHANISM FOR DUMPING scoors Filed Jan. 3, 1928 3 Sheets-Sheet Patented Mar. 22, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ROBERT REX DOWNIE, OF BEAVER FALLS, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR T0 KEYSTONE DRILLER COMPANY, OF BEAVER FALLS, PENNSYLVANIA, A CORPORATION OF PENNSYLVANIA TRIPPING MECHANISM FOR, DUMPING SCOOPS 1 Application filed January 3, 1928. Serial No. 244,291.

This invention relates to trips for skimmer scoops and among other objects, aims to provide an efiicient and dependable electrically operatedv device of this character.

In the drawings showing two embodiments of the invention,

'Fig. 1 is a rear view of the scoop and the improved trip mechanism;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of a skimmer scoop and a portion of the boom, with the improvements shown thereon;

Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view taken on the line 33 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on the line 4i of Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is a top plan view of the trolley;

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on the line 66 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 7 is a wiring diagram of the electrical tripping mechanism.

Fig. 8 is a side elevation of a scoop and boom having a spring tensioned trolley wire to obviate contact thereof with the boom during excavation;

Fig. 9 is an enlarged detail in vertical section showing the way in which the spring tensions the trolley wire, and also one of the insulating means;

Fig. 10 is a similar view of the insulating means at the opposite end of the trolley wire; and Fig. 11 is an elevation of a trolley wire insulating support.

Referring particularly to the drawings, there is shown a skimmer scoop assembly of the same general construction as that shown and described in Patent No. 1,536,390 dated May 5, 1925, said assembly comprising a scoop 10 having a hinged dumping bottom 11 and mounted on a swinging boom 12 by means of rollers 13 connected to a bail 14 and a rear hanger casting15, the lower end of which is mounted between brackets 16 secured to the rear end of the scoop. As heretofore, the scoop is adapted to be pulled outwardly along the boom by a line 17 and the boom is raised and lowered by line 18. Retraction of the scoop is efiected by raising the boom and permitting the scoop to move down by gravity.

The latching mechanism includes a latch lever 19 pivotally mounted between a pair of ears 20 (Fig. 1) secured to the rear wall of the scoop, said latch lever engaging a keeper 21 secured to the scoop bottom 11, thus pre- Venting the bottom from falling open. A rocker shaft 22, mounted in one of the brackets 16 and a smaller bracket 23, has its other end bent rearwardly and upwardly to form a crank arm 24 (Fig. 3). The rocker shaft passes between the latch and the rear wall of the scoop and is provided with a cam in the form of a roller 25 mounted between arms 26 which are normally in the position of Fig. 4. The cam roller 25 is adapted to bear against and rock the latch lever 19 when the rock shaft is turned. The latch lever 19 is at all times pressed by a leaf spring 27 (Fig. 1)

and the cam is returned to its normal position by a coiled spring 28, surrounding the rocker shaft 22 and secured at one end to the adjacent bracket 16 and at the other end to a polygonal collar 29having a plurality of transverse holes adapted to register with a transverse hole (not shown) in the shaft 22 through which a pin or bolt is passed. The described latching mechanism forms part of the subject matter of my Patent No. 1,511,115, in which the latch is adapted to be released by a pull on a rope or the like secured to the arm.

In the present invention an electromagnetic device, herein in the form of an electric motor 30 or the like, is adapted to operate the arm 24: to trip the latch and thus dump the scoop at the will of the operator, and without imposing on him the labor of pulling a line. In the present instance the motor is mounted on a bracket 31 suitably secured to the side of the scoop 10at the rear end thereof, and above the'body of the scoop. An upright plate 32 is secured to'the bracket 31 and is provided with a suitable aperture through which the motor shaft 33 extends. A pinion 34 on the motor shaft 33 meshes with a larger gear 35 rotatably mounted on a stub shaft 36 secured to the plate 32 below the motor 30, and the gear 35 is connected with mechanism for rocking the latch lever, as will be described.

Secured to the gear 35 is an outwardly projecting wrist pin which is effectively a crank,

' .frbmthekeeperr21' and permitting the scoop bottom 11'to open; To return the several having a ball 37 providing a universal connection to the upper end of an adjustable pitman'38 (Fig. 6), the lower end of which is universally connected-by a ball-39 to the lower'bifurcatedendof a bellcrank lever 40. The lever 40 is. pivoted intermediate its ends on a' pin 41 or the like mounted in brackets 42 secured to the lower-end of the plate 32. The upper end -of the bell crank lever 40 is formed with outstanding spaced arms l3 having rollers 44 and 45 interposed between theirends and preferably grooved to receive the round upper end ofthe-arms 2 l between;

them.

40, which :moves the :arms 43 and the rollers outwardly. Theinner roller 44 pushes the upper :end of the arm't2 'outwardl'yithereby rocking the shaft 22 to release :the latch- '19 a--- o,normaosiion onuroi" prtst lp t ,c a tlecolled springs 46'are'securedbetweenthe upperends of the pitman 38' and the brackets 42; Thus when'the'current to the motor is "turned off,

the springs '46-will* pull thezpitman downwardlyto its lowermost, orxnormal position.

The motor 30 receives its electrical energy from a conductor, 47, connected to; trolley wheels 48"(Figs.=1, 2 and 3) adaptedto engage "a trolley wire' 49' mounted 'on 'tlie boom 12 (Fig. 2) but insulated therefrom as .shown 'Herein therwheels 48'are mounted within a U shaped casing 50; (Figs. 1,3 and 5) which is rockablymounted near'the end of a stub shaft '51, adj ustably secured to and insulated fromthe upper end of atrolleypole 52: The 'lowerend ofthe trolley pole 52 is universally connectedto a bracket 53 orthe like secured to the upper end of the plate 32. In

I the :present instance the universal connection comprises a block 54, pivotally connected" to thewendof the bracket'53 and also pivotally "mountedbetween the arms of a U-shaped @clip'55 to whichwthe trolley pole is rigidly i no secured. Acontractile coiled spring 56 connected'to the upper end of the trolley :pole and on tlie wire, asbymeans of spring. tension. Fig. 2 illustrates the former expedient-and Figs. 8 and 9, the latter. Insulating,elements, shown inFi'gsB and 11, will be used to prevent contact between the boomx'and-wire when the boom-bends.

o :A :conductor 57 which is preferably uniing. the trolley wire. sleeve 68 supports and protects the insulathrustuof the tension spring.

versally connected to the inner end of the trolley wire. (not shown), leads to a switch 58 (indicatedin Fig. 7) located on one of 77 or during dumping into trucks. As the; gear 35Yis 'rotated,:the pitman: '38 pulls up on thelower end of the bell "crank Referring to the form of the invention its outer end by an angle bracket (which may be welded to the boom or toa plate also;

welded to the boom). As the boomis'a conductor which is grounded, the. trolley 1 wire must be insulated at suitable intervals from the boom. Referring to Fig. 9,-the-angle bracket 65 is shown as having a perforation; K

66 therein sufliciently large .to pass the trolleywire 49, an insulating bushing 67 fitting snugly into said perforationwand surround- A. screw-threaded tion G'T'andnuts 69, 70 threaded on saidsleeve clamp the. insulation so as to be: immovable in bracket 65. The trolley wire 49 passes ifreelythrough sleeve 68 so "that it may move longitudinally relative to bracket-:65 and has a sleeve 71 secured thereto, as by welding, and along-coil spring 72 between wash- -ersz7 3 and 78; Washer 73 abutsagainstone end of sleeve 68 while washer 74 is confined by nut 7 5 threaded onsleeve 71. Alock nut 76'prevents loss-of nut 7 5, which resiststhe The opposite end of thetrolleywire is supported by an anglebracket 77 ,at the inner-or pivoted end of the boom. This bracket has perforation 78 in which the insulatingbushing 79 fits, said insulation being. held by nuts 80, 82 and surrounding sleeve-181 on which said nuts are threaded. A nut 83, threaded on the end ofthe .trolleywire, abuts sleeve 81 and prevents longitudinal movement of the trolley'wire through the'perforation in angle bracket 77, while permitting longitudinal: adjustment.

From the foregoing, it willbeclearthat the trolley-wire is subjected to longitudinal tension because of'the strong spring 72,

which tends to straighten said 'wire if bent laterally because of deflections of theboom duringexcavation. Such straightening will I tend :to prevent contact of the trolley-wire with the top of the boom, even when the boom is temporarily bent into an arcuate shape because of the severe stresses. To make such contact impossible, one or. more insulating supports are provided at points intermediate the brackets 65, 77, one of these insulating supports being shown in Fig. 11. The trolley wire 49 is brazed to an inverted hanger 84 having a slot 85 through which pass studs 86 screwed into an insulating block 87 secured to the top of the boom. Thus longitudinal movement of the trolley wire for adjustment is permitted.

The described construction provides insulating supports on the boom for the trolley wire, with the outer part of the wire subjected to strong tension and hence held off the top of'the boom even when bent at its outer end.

From the foregoing, it will be obvious that a device has been provided which will permit the operator to release the scoop latch instantly regardless of the position of the scoop on the boom, without removing his hands from either control lever. The mounting of the trolley and the trolley pole insures a constant electrical supply to the motor. Furthermore, the device may be attached to the manually operated latch mechanism now in use without any alterations except bending the arm 24.

Obviously the present invention is not restricted to the particular embodiments thereof herein shown and described. Moreover, it is not indispensable that all the features of the invention be used conjointly, since they may be employed advantageously in various combinations and sub-combinations.

What is claimed is 1. In combination with the boom of an excavating machine, a scoop having a dump ing door and latch mechanism for the door; a trolley wire mounted on and insulated from the boom and jointed at numerous points so as to minimize the possibilities of breakage of the wire and contact of the wire with the boom, due to bending and twisting of the boom by the reactions ofexcavation; an electric motor mounted on the scoop and operatively connected to trip the latch mechanism; means carried by the scoop and engageable with the trolley wire to carry current from the trolley wire to the motor; and a switch in circuit with the trolley wire to control the motor.

2. In combination with the boom of an excavating machine, a scoop mounted on the boom to travel along it and having a dumping door and latch mechanism for the door; a trolley wire mounted on and insulated from the boom; means including a coil spring pulling on one end of the trolley wire to tend to holdsaid wire taut when the boom bends under the stresses of excavation; an electric motor mounted on the scoop and operatively connected to trip the latch mechanism; means carried by the scoop and engageable with the trolley wire to carry current from 5 the trolley wire to the motor; and a switch in circuit with the trolley wire to control the motor.

3. In combination with the boom of an excavating machine and an excavating scoop which is supported by and travels along the boom, said'scoop having an electrically operated latch-tripping mechanism; a trolley wire mounted on the top ofthe boom; insulating means on the boom for supporting the wire; and means co-operating with said insulating means to prevent contact of the wire with the boom when the boom is bent by the stresses of excavation.

4. In combination, a, traveling scoop having a dumping door; latch mechanism for the door; an operating arm'for the latch mechanism; a crank shaft; an electric motor adapted to rotate the crank shaft; a bell crank lever; a pitman connecting the crank shaft and the bell crank lever; means on the bell crank lever constructed and arranged to actuate the operating arm; and a switch for controlling the motor. 7

5. In combination witha traveling scoop having a dumping door; latch mechanism for the door and an operating arm for the latch mechanism; a crank shaft; an electric motor adapted to rotate the crank shaft; a bell crank lever; a pitman connecting the crank shaft and the bell crank lever; means on the bell crank lever constructed and arranged to-actuate the operating arm; means connected to the pitman to return the. operating arm to latching position; and a remote control switch for the motor. I

6. In combination with an excavating machine having a boom; a traveling scoop on the boom; a dumping door for the scoop; latching means for the door comprising a latch, a

latch-tripping arm, and a springurging the latch into engaging position; a trolley wire mounted on the boom and insulated therefrom; an electric motor, on the scoop means carried by the scoop and engageable with the trolley wire to conduct current from the wire to the motor; mechanism operated by said motor to trip the latch; said mechanism comprising a gear, a pitman connected to the gear,and a lever connected with the pitman and engaging the latch-tripping arm; and a spring connected with the scoop and with said pitman for restoring said mechanism after each tripping movement to the position wherein engagement of the latch is assured.

7. In combination with the boom of an excavating machine; a scoop having a dumping door and latch mechanism for the door; a trolley wire mounted on the boom and insulated therefrom; a source of electrical energy connected to the trolley wire through a switch; an electric motor operatively connected to the latch mechanism; a trolley universally connected to the scoop; a contact wheel mounted within a casing which is rockable vertically on the end of the trolley, the

team' wheel being engageabIe rwith and I 7 movable over the trolley wire; and conduc- V -tor means connecting 'th'e trolley wheel with nected to the crank."

95 In colnbinationi with the boom of an-exthemntor sonas 'to energize the motor I when "theswitch is closed. I

1 815In combination-with the boom of an excavating machine having a scoop; adumpingdOOr-forthe scoop; latch mechanism for thedo'or; an operating arm; for the latch mechanism; abellcrank' lever; rollers on the r bell crank lever adapted to actuate the operating arm; a crank; a pitman universally-con-' nected to the bellc-rankle'veran'd' tosaicl crank; andsan electric motor operativelycon- 'cavatingfmachine having a-scoop ;-a dumping door-*for the scoop latch mechanism forthe door; 1m operating arm for the latch mechanismpa bell crank 'lever; rollers on the bell crank lever adapted 'to actuate the operating arm; a crank; a pitman' universally connected to the bell cran-k' lever and to said crank; an' electric' motor operatively connected to the crank"; and means to "return the crank to normalj' positi'on when the motor is 'de-ener- 10: I11 a skimmer scoop, in combination, a boom; and an electrical conductor mounted on' the upper-side of "the i boom but spaced therefrom; insulators on "the-"boom and supporting the coniluctor; said; conductor "being jointcd -at' intervals so'th'at, when the-boom bends; the con'dnctor- 'will bend at the joints and hence will not be permanently-deformed, ombroken 'by repeated bending but WlllI'Q- main out of contact with-the'boom'.

11. In combination with 'the boom of an excavating machine; a-scoop with a dumping "dOOr; latchimechanism forthe-door'; an operatingjarm for the latchimechanism; a bell crank'ilever; rollers on'the bell crank lever adapted toactuate'the'arm; 'a crank; a pit- Inan universally connectedto the bell crank lever :and to'said crank an electric 'motor a gear'cdriven jby the motor and "carrying said crank and af-pair "of springs; one -on each "side of the crankand extendi ng to thescoop', when 7 they are-connectei-so as to exert a continuous V "pull on the crank to bring it out of 'adeadcenter'position with respect to the gear shaft.

In testimony, that I claim the foregoing: as my own; I have hereto afli xecl my signature. "ROBERT 'DOWNIE; 

